Page 69

“Why is this not bothering you? Don’t you care?”

“Of course I care,” Matthew fumed. “But what are you so afraid of?”

Katherine tried to look away, but he wouldn’t let her.

“Wedidn’t do anything wrong. We kissed. We’ve held each other. So, we slept in the same bed. Big deal. So, we care about each other. How the hell is that wrong?”

Katherine couldn’t speak. The more she thought about it, the more she let fear take over.

“Katie, please, you gotta stop overthinking this,” Matthew begged. “Wedidn’tdo anything wrong. Why can’t you see that?”

“Because they’ll think we did!” she snapped back, starting to cry. “Everyone will see me as immoral and corrupt. And I’ll be no better than the woman Max was with.”

“Oh, sweetheart… that’s just not true.”

“You don’t know that. What if people think I wanted Julia to die? That I was just waiting around for the chance to be with you.”

Matthew shook his head. He didn’t know what to do or say. On the one hand, he was frustrated with Katherine for letting her mind go to such extremes. But on the other hand, he hated watching her cry like this, and his heart ached. He wondered how long she’d carried the burden of living life based on other people’s opinions and expectations.

“Did you want her to die?”

“Of course not. But I hated her for how she treated you and Libby. I heard so much more than you know. I’m sorry. I didn’t want to, but I did. And I hated how she disrespected you and never called Libby by her name. All I ever heard Julia call her wasthe baby. Like that innocent little girl was some kind of nuisance to her. Well, she’s not. Because she’s amazing and sweet and fun, and I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t be overjoyed to be her mother.” Katherine choked on a sob. “Why the hell didn’t Julia know how lucky she was?”

Matthew sighed just before he swallowed back his own hurt. “Because we weren’t what she wanted.”

Katherine sniffled, reaching for a paper napkin from a dispenser on the counter.

“Katie, am I still what you want?”

“Yes, but—”

“No buts.” Matthew stopped her. “It’s either yes or no.”

Staring into his eyes, Katherine wanted so much to believe they could make it.“How will people look at us when it’s been weeks since the accident, and we’re in bed together?”

“But no one knows we were in bed together. Besides, we didn’t do anything.”

“But we’ve wanted to.”

Matthew smiled. “You’re right, we have. And it’s going to happen someday. So, what does it matter to the rest of the world if it’s today or ten years from today? That’s for us to decide because we can’t live our lives based on other people’s expectations. Our future is for us to decide. And no one gets to make those decisions for us. And as far as Julia’s concerned, I’m sorry you were ever upset by her behavior, but honestly, from what you’ve told me about Max, I’m not too happy with him either.”

Katherine shook her head. “Don’t you see how bad that sounds?”

“Are you saying you were never mad at him?”

“No, I still am sometimes, but it doesn’t make it right.”

“No, it doesn’t. But we’re human. It’s how we feel. We’re not perfect, just liketheyweren’t perfect. We have to give some grace where it’s needed, to them and to us, and then let it go. It doesn’t do us any good to dwell on it.”

Katherine nodded reluctantly.

“Look, I know this thing between us has happened really fast, but I don’t care. I don’t wanna give up on us, and I don’t wanna lose you.”

“I don’t wanna lose you either,” she admitted, falling into Matthew’s arms. “I’m sorry I overreacted.”

“I’m sorry, too.”

Though Katherine could’ve stood there in Matthew’s arms forever, the diner’s front door opened.